Jump To Lightspeed is an exciting new expansion dedicated to spaceships for Fantasy Flight Games’ innovative trading card game, Star Wars Unlimited. In anticipation of the release in March 2025, Screen Rant recently interviewed the design team to glean insights about the upcoming set. The new expansion is expected to shake up the current meta, offering players thrilling opportunities to engage in epic interstellar combat.
The journey began with the Spark of Rebellion set, which was the inaugural release, followed by Shadows of the Galaxy and Twilight of the Republic. These early expansions established the foundation for Year 1 of the game. Now, as the franchise prepares to enter Year 2 and unveil Set 4, the design team is eager to introduce more experimental cards that break new ground beyond the established baseline.
During the discussion, MJ Cutts, a Game Designer with Fantasy Flight Games and a leading architect of Set 4, shared valuable perspectives about piloting mechanics, the introduction of new Spotlight decks, and the overall creative process involved in the expansion’s development.
Crafting a Fresh Set
“It Was Kind of Wild. It Was Very Exploratory.”
Screen Rant: Can you elaborate on the overarching narrative for this set?
MJ Cutts: I joined the project during its development, midway through the design phase. It was an exhilarating experience for Jeremy (Zwirn) and me as we ventured beyond foundational work into the realm of the unprecedented. It was a unique period, especially as I was a new designer at the time, along with others in the team.
Essentially, we were experimenting and innovating, which led to some fascinating but convoluted ideas at times. We tossed a lot of concepts around. Thankfully, some of the more bizarre piloting ideas did not make the cut!
Screen Rant: Now I’m curious about those ideas!
MJ Cutts: Oh, you’d combine cards to function as if they were a single unit, granting them multiple traits. It was an ambitious concept but also quite mentally taxing.
Screen Rant: This set certainly appears distinct from the first three sets.
MJ Cutts: Absolutely! The most noticeable change is the dramatic increase in space themes, which will significantly impact Limited play, and I anticipate it will refresh the Constructed side as well. Players will encounter new characters and experiences, adding considerable variety.
Screen Rant: What motivated the decision to make Leaders into piloting upgrades? For example, Han flipping into the Millennium Falcon instead of being a distinct piloting upgrade.
MJ Cutts: This approach benefits the game in three key areas: thematically, it honors the characters behind the cockpit, aligning perfectly with the Star Wars universe; mechanically, it offers greater flexibility, allowing players to execute humorous and strategic plays; and from a production standpoint, it keeps our artistic budget manageable by avoiding the costs associated with additional art.
Transforming the Narrative and Meta Impact
“One of the Most Unique Limited Environments of Any Set So Far.”
Screen Rant: How do you envision Limited events evolving with this new set? Will they feel significantly different?
MJ Cutts: Yes, indeed! I believe Set 4 introduces one of the most unique Limited formats we have seen so far. The emphasis on space and the potential for stacking upgrades on ships leads to dynamic and unpredictable play. Players will be able to build heavily invested units, only to see the game pivot with just a card or two.
The gameplay can be exhilarating, with opportunities for bait and counter-strategy becoming pivotal to success.
MJ Cutts: Moreover, I expect characters like Gar from Set 2 to gain considerable traction, especially with the influx of new cards that interact with existing upgrade mechanics.
Screen Rant: That’s an exciting prospect!
MJ Cutts: Absolutely. The Mandalorian Starter deck from Set 2, for instance, might find new synergies through the enhanced upgrade mechanics introduced in this expansion.
Screen Rant: Regarding resource costs for piloting upgrades, how are decisions made about their stats? What ensures they remain appealing choices compared to standard units?
MJ Cutts: It’s a delicate balance between creating compelling pilot versions and maintaining variety within the game. We’ve recognized the necessity of tweaks to ensure pilots offer distinct advantages, avoiding a scenario where players default to a single powerful card.
The focus in Year 2 has been developing a clearer framework for balance and checking which high-performing upgrades resonate well, ensuring each pilot remains a vital component of their respective decks.
Creating New Spotlight Decks
“I Think That’s Different From Any Other Leader We’ve Made.”
Screen Rant: Beyond piloting abilities, how did you ensure that Han and Boba stood out from their previous iterations in past sets?
MJ Cutts: The design vision from the start was to create a fun and engaging mechanic centered around ‘odds’ for Han. This is not just a fresh take on Han but stands apart from any previous leader designs.
For Boba Fett, we sought to integrate indirect damage mechanics, promoting decision-making dilemmas for opponents—truly characterizing him as cunning and villainous.
Screen Rant: What’s one key insight you want players to take away from the design decisions for the Spotlight decks?
MJ Cutts: A crucial factor is that these are Spotlight decks rather than Starter decks, meaning they incorporate more Year 1 reprints. We aimed to ensure these reprints integrate seamlessly, providing players with reasons to enhance their broader deck collections.
Screen Rant: Given that the Spotlight decks will be more potent than the Starter decks, how did you approach this during design?
MJ Cutts: Extensive testing was conducted, evaluating these decks against one another and myriad powerful meta decks to find a balanced fit. All our assessments helped shape a more robust competitive environment.
Screen Rant: With the new Spotlight decks, can you explain the rationale behind utilizing odd numbers for Han’s deck?
MJ Cutts: The choice was intentional. For example, a card titled “Never Tell Me the Odds”necessitated the inclusion of odds in the deck, preventing it from causing confusion among players, while also offering a thematic narrative around Han’s leadership.
Innovating Space Tokens, Mechanics, and Designer Favorites
“A Nice Way To Avoid Players Fighting Too Much Over Getting The Starfighters They Need.”
Screen Rant: I was intrigued by the space tokens; I had my hopes set on them during the stream. Initially, I was disappointed there were no space tokens.
MJ Cutts: The intention was to demonstrate various tokens, including Experience and Shield, during the stream. Space tokens were prioritized as they allow players to utilize pilots effectively while preventing fierce competition for starfighters.
Screen Rant: That strategy makes sense. You noted that there wouldn’t be Imperial or Rebel traits associated with the ships?
MJ Cutts: Yes. If we were to reprint tokens in the future, they would require a dedicated thematic push to suit the essence of the game. For instance, they would need to reflect specific alliances rather than generic designs.
Screen Rant: So, including those traits might lead to balance issues, particularly with characters like Leia and Tarkin?
MJ Cutts: Not inherently, but it was a production consideration. I wanted to ensure that future thematic elements resonate strongly with player desires while also enhancing gameplay experience.
Screen Rant: As a final note, what’s your current favorite deck to play?
MJ Cutts: Oh, that’s a hard question! I currently enjoy playing Gar Yellow, especially with different iterations of Anakin. The unexpected speed of a blue-yellow villain deck intrigues many, and Anakin brings such excitement to any game!
Screen Rant: Any last thoughts for players and fans to consider about Set 4?
MJ Cutts: My love for large spaceships is well-known, and this set definitely includes them. Players can expect cards centered around significant spaceships for an even more robust strategic experience!
Star Wars Unlimited Set 4: Jump To Lightspeed is set to launch in March 2025, promising a set of thrilling new features for fans and players alike.
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